Thursday, November 15, 2012

Review:All Things New by:Lynn Austin


About the Book:
The war is over. The South has lost.

Josephine Weatherly struggles to pick up the pieces of her life when her family returns to their Virginia plantation. But the realities of life after the war cannot be denied: her home and land are but a shell of their previous grandeur; death has claimed her father and brother; and her remaining brother, Daniel, has returned home bitter and broken.

Her life of privilege, a long-ago dream.

Josephine soon realizes that life is now a matter of daily survival--and recognizes that Lizzie, as one of the few remaining servants, is the one she must rely on to teach her all she needs to know. Josephine's mother, too, vows to rebuild White Oak--but a bitter hatred fuels her.

Can hope--and a battered faith in God--survive amid the devastation?
In her bestselling tradition, Lynn Austin brings to life the difficult years of Reconstruction by interweaving the stories of three women--daughter, mother, and freed slave--in a riveting tale.


About the Author:
Lynn Austin, a former teacher who now writes and speaks full time, has won eight Christy Awards for her historical fiction. One of those novels, Hidden Places, has also been made into a Hallmark Channel movie. Lynn and her husband have raised three children and make their home near Chicago, Illinois. Visit Lynn's Web site at www.lynnaustin.org
My Review:
 The Weatherly's decide to return to their Virginia plantation post Civil War to find that the Union soldiers have vandalized their home. But all is not lost as they began to clean their home and rebuild their lives. Josephine soon realizes that because her father and her older brother Samuel have passed on it is now up to her to bring her remaining family members back to reality. They must dust themselves off after this cruel war has all but ruined them and start over. Josephine's mother is fueled by the hatred she feels for the North and the loss of her family so much so that she is of no help to Josephine. And so Josephine must rely on Lizzie and Alexander Chandler to help her restore her family to their former glory.
 Josephine soon realizes Harrison is not the man she thought he was. And that their promised engagement just can not be. Her is passion fueled by Alexander Chandler which is intoxicating on all levels. She finds it hard to ignore the feelings that she has recently developed for this man. The one draw back if any is that he is from Pennsylvania. Not something that is very becoming of him since her family are sworn enemies to anyone residing from the North.
 They will soon see what a live wire Daniel, Josephine's brother really is. And the lengths he will go to, to hurt everyone around him.

**Disclaimer** This book was provided to me for free through Bethany House Publishers blogging program for my unbiased review.
 

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